Carry-on considerations

Know what you can take on a plane, and what to expect at the airport

CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- New rules regarding the items passengers can take with them on airplanes created long lines and delays Thursday at many of the country's airports.

Beverages, shampoo, toothpaste, lotions, sunscreens -- all liquids or gels -- are now banned from cabins, a precaution taken after British authorities foiled an alleged plot to blow up U.S.-bound airplanes, according to a Department of Homeland Security announcement. Carry-on bags were being checked at the gate.

Exceptions to the new ban are infant formula, breast milk or juice for infants who are traveling. Prescription drugs and insulin are also allowed if they're labeled with a passenger name that matches the one on the ticket.

The new restrictions especially affected morning passengers who had packed only wheeled carry-on suitcases and arrived at the airport without knowledge of the rules, said David Stempler, president of the Air Travelers Association.

Thursday morning at Washington National Airport, many passengers sat on the floor, repacking their bags so that all liquids could travel in checked luggage. Sometimes, though, small items including shampoo and toothpaste hit the trash can instead.

Interpretation of the rules led to some confusion as passengers discovered items such as lip gloss, lipstick, mascara and shaving cream were fair game for confiscation, too, as were such common purse contents as hand sanitizer and moisturizer, said Amy Ziff, editor-at-large for Travelocity.com.

"This is definitely something that is not normal for people," she said, adding that the new rules are a "total 180" for travelers who prefer to pack light and like keep everything with them on the plane.

Even less normal was the situation at Britain's airports, where passengers were to be permitted to pass through security with only a single plastic bag whose contents were to be restricted to those appearing on a brief approved-items list. Traveler advice issued by the U.K. Department for Transport included this directive: "Nothing may be carried in pockets."

Beyond the weekend

The delays should only span the next few days, said Paul Ruden, senior vice president for legal and industry affairs at the American Society of Travel Agents. Travelers should plan ahead and get to the airport at least 2 1/2 hours ahead of flight time and more than three hours early if the flight is international.

"In the early going, there will be some delays, no doubt," Ruden said. "Not everyone's going to get the message. They'll show up with expensive eye cream [in their carry-on] and won't want to give it up."

Lengthier stops at security checkpoints will most likely cause airlines to delay flights, as planes wait for the tardy passengers to work their way through security, Ruden said. But he expected delays to wane in the next couple of days as schedules get back on track -- much as they would following a spate of bad weather.

"Airlines do an amazing job with that," he said. "They really are able to reset the system."

Whether the event and the new rules prompt travelers to cancel reservations remains to be seen, Stempler said. But there are some trips that travelers won't be willing to give up, including vacation plans made long in advance and flights to campus for college-bound students, he said.

In cases of shorter trips, the extra time required to get through the airport might make driving a more appealing option and cause travelers to take the car, Stempler said. "Although a negative on that is the high price of gasoline," he added.

Some travelers may, in fact, cancel plans out of fear -- especially trips bound for the United Kingdom -- but more will likely cancel because they don't want to contend with the new hassles, said Terry Trippler, an airline-industry analyst.

"Americans have matured tremendously since Sept. 11," he said. Once, people were uncomfortable with having their bags looked through when entering a sports stadium, he added; now, the practice has come to be expected.

Customers making inquiries to Travelocity on Thursday were mostly wondering how their flights would be affected, Ziff said. She echoed Trippler, saying she doesn't anticipate a slew of cancellations -- particularly because no actual terror event took place.

Ruden said that, as long as people feel safe, he doubts -- during the peak of the travel season -- that they will trade in their travel plans "just because they can't carry toothpaste on the plane."

And, eventually, passengers will simply adapt to the new rules.

"We, as airline passengers are kind of a resilient lot," Stempler said. Although incidents do bring questions of security back to people's minds, as time goes on there's less worry.

Tips if you're flying soon:

Check for updates on the Transportation Security Association Web site: www.tsa.gov. Rules regarding what you can take on a plane could change day by day, Ziff said.

Check with the airline and the airport. Understand how each is interpreting the new carry-on rules, Stempler said. When in doubt about a particular item, don't pack it in your carry-on. Also inquire or go online to discover the status of your particular flight. If you're considering canceling, make sure you know your airline's policy.

Testing exceptions. Don't surprised if you're asked to sample items granted exceptions to the liquid rule, Ziff said. You may be asked to taste an infant's milk or juice for verification.

Arrive early. Check with the airline and airport for recommendations, but in general get there at least 2 1/2 hours before the flight. For international flights, allow at least three hours. If you miss a flight that was full, you might have difficulty securing a seat on a later plane during this busy travel season. "Rebooking is going to be challenging, especially if traveling with a family or small children and you don't want to get separated," said Erin Krause, an Expedia spokeswoman.

If you're ready to go earlier than your flight is scheduled, consider flying standby. Some airlines allow you to take an earlier flight, Trippler said. If flights are delayed around the country, there's a chance that passengers with connecting flights may have missed the second leg -- opening up some seats. An earlier flight allows you to "get out of town while the getting is good," he said.

Be courteous. Tensions rise with wait times, but it's best to stay calm and cooperative. "Don't argue over 25-cent toothpaste," Ruden said. "The argument is futile, anyway."

Be ready to wait. Get past the security first, and then get your sandwich or cup of coffee, Trippler advised. And take along a good book to pass the time.

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